Multi-mode hands free automatic faucet

Abstract

A hands-free faucet comprises a proximity sensor, a logical control, a handle including a first touch control, a second touch control, and a mode indicator. The logical control has a manual mode (wherein the proximity sensor is inactive, and water flow is toggled on and off by positioning the handle) and a hands-free mode (wherein water flow is toggled on and off in response to the proximity sensor). The first touch control puts the faucet in the hands-free mode when touched by a user. The second touch control toggles the logical control between the hands-free mode and the manual mode when touched by a user. The mode indicator indicates which mode the faucet is presently in. The water flow has a temperature and a flow rate that are determined by the position of the handle.

1. A hands-free faucet comprising:
 a handle comprising at least one touch control; 
 a proximity sensor having an active state and an inactive state; 
 a logical control, having:
 a manual mode, wherein the proximity sensor is inactive, and wherein positioning the handle toggles water flow on and off; 
 a hands-free mode, wherein water flow is toggled on and off in response to changes in the state of the proximity sensor; and 
 a mode-controller that toggles the faucet between the hands-free mode and the manual mode; 
 wherein said at least one touch control controls activation of water flow through the faucet in response to contact with the handle that is insufficient to change a position of the handle. 
 
 
   
   
     2. The hands-free faucet of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one touch control activates water flow when the handle is touched. 
   
   
     3. The hands-free faucet of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one touch control deactivates water flow when the handle is released. 
   
   
     4. The hands-free faucet of  claim 3 , wherein said at least one touch control deactivates water flow when the handle is released following a time delay. 
   
   
     5. The hands-free faucet of  claim 2 , wherein the water flow has a temperature and a flow rate that are determined by the position of the handle. 
   
   
     6. The hands-free faucet of  claim 1 , wherein the handle includes the mode-controller, and touching the handle activates the hands-free mode. 
   
   
     7. The hands-free faucet of  claim 6 , further comprising a second mode-controller that toggles the faucet between the hands-free mode and the manual mode. 
   
   
     8. The hands-free faucet of  claim 1 , wherein the faucet is configured as a kitchen-type faucet. 
   
   
     9. The hands-free faucet of  claim 1 , wherein contacting said at least one touch control toggles water flow through the faucet. 
   
   
     10. The hands-free faucet of  claim 1  wherein said handle further comprising a second touch control. 
   
   
     11. The hands-free faucet of  claim 10  wherein said second touch control is constructed and arranged to toggle the faucet between the hands-free mode and the manual mode when touched by a user. 
   
   
     12. The hands-free faucet of  claim 11  which further includes a mode indicator that indicates which of the manual mode and the hands-free mode the faucet is presently in. 
   
   
     13. The hands-free faucet of  claim 1  which further includes a mode indicator that indicates which of the manual mode and the hands-free mode the faucet is presently in. 
   
   
     14. The hands-free faucet of  claim 1  which further includes a flow detector for detecting whether or not water is flowing through the faucet. 
   
   
     15. A faucet comprising:
 a manual valve; 
 a pull-down spout; 
 a proximity sensor having a detection zone, the proximity sensor generating a proximity signal when the proximity sensor senses the presence of an object within the detection zone; and 
 an electrically operable valve in series with the manual valve, the electrically operable valve toggling based on the proximity signal. 
 
   
   
     16. The faucet of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a touch control that generates a touch signal; and 
 wherein the electrically operable valve toggles based on the touch signal. 
 
   
   
     17. The faucet of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a touch control, comprising:
 a touch sensor; and 
 a logical control that generates a touch signal when the touch sensor is touched and released within a period of time less than a predetermined threshold, but which does not generate the touch signal when the touch sensor is touched for a period longer than the predetermined threshold; and 
 wherein the electrically operable valve toggles based on the touch signal. 
 
 
   
   
     18. The faucet of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a proximity sensor having a detection zone, the proximity sensor generating a proximity signal when the proximity sensor senses the presence of an object within the detection zone; and 
 wherein the electrically operable valve toggles based on the proximity signal.